Britain's best seaside hotels

A guide to 25 of the best seaside hotels in Britain, including the top places
to stay for families, kids and couples, featuring infinity pools, sea views,
excellent fish restaurants, impressive spas and charming rooms, in locations
such as Cornwall, Brighton, Norfolk, Suffolk, Dorset, Isle of Wight and
Jersey

At last, summer is here, so pack up and head for the coast while the going is good. It’s not just the south west that bags the best of Britain’s coastline: here’s a selection of places to stay right round the country that match in character what their locations offer in the delights of being beside the sea. Not all of them are obvious choices – a cosy traditional pub that just happens to be close to magnificent Norfolk beaches; an Art Deco masterpiece in Morecambe – but stay in any of them and you will be amazed by what coastal Britain has to offer.

The Scarlet, Mawgan Porth, Cornwall

Overlooking romantic Mawgan Porth beach, this scintillating eco hotel blurs the boundaries between inside and out, with glass walls, flat roofs covered in sea thrift and infinity pools that seem to reach to the sea. At its heart is its Ayurvedic spa, with pods suspended in the dark for deep relaxation. The Scarlet may be thoroughly green but there’s no sense of a hair shirt approach: once inside this adult-only sanctuary, the feeling is one of soothing, sybaritic luxury. Double rooms from £230.

The Gallivant, Camber Sands, East Sussex

With an appropriate beach shack look (bleached, driftwood style bar in the open, sunny Bistro and similar furnishings in the bedrooms) the Gallivant overlooks the golden sands of Camber. Its name (‘to wander about, seeking pleasure’) is appropriate: it started life as the Blue Dolphin Motel, when no doubt it saw its fair share of gallivants and their girls. Now it’s an informal, affordable beachside hotel with a youthful air and plenty of local fish on the menu. Doubles from £125.

The Blakeney Hotel, Blakeney, Norfolk

Loved by generations of the same families, The Blakeney stands in a prime position on the charming quayside in one of the Norfolk coast’s prettiest villages, with wonderful views across the estuary and salt marshes to Blakeney Point. The family-owned hotel has recently had a top-to-toe refurbishment of its bedrooms and sitting rooms, which have pretty fabrics and are white, light and very comfortable. There are panoramic views from the restaurant, bar and terrace. Double rooms from £172.

Artist Residence, Brighton

There’s nowhere more fun, and more in the spirit of theatrical, artistic Brighton than this highly individual 23-room hotel at the top of Regency Square, where each bedroom is individually painted by an artist, and more works of art are dotted around the hotel. There are views of Brighton’s seaside from the open-plan breakfast and reception room, a Cocktail Shack and the rustic but chic Set Restaurant for seasonal tasting menus. Double rooms from £105.

The Atlantic, Jersey, Channel Islands

It began life as an unforgiving Sixties building. Four decades on, after major refurbishment, the Atlantic now speaks more of Art Deco and ocean liners, with sophisticated all white reception rooms that are stylish, yet timeless, complemented by beautifully mannered staff who provide the traditional element in a hotel that stays fresh, but refuses to follow fashion. The same can be said for the Michelin-starred cooking of Mark Jordan, which takes its cue from the best produce that Jersey has to offer. Double rooms from £200.

Romney Bay House, Littlestone, Kent

Hedda Hopper, the American actress and gossip columnist, commissioned Sir Clough Williams-Ellis to build this imposing mansion for her in the Twenties. The setting on a wide pebble beach between Romney Marsh and the sea is glorious and peaceful. Inside, it has attractive, homely bedrooms, a cosy bar, fire-lit sitting room, pretty conservatory dining room and top-floor ‘lookout’ with the feel of a beach hut and an old-fashioned telescope for scanning the horizon. On a clear day, you can see France. Double rooms from £95.

Pier Hotel, Harwich, Essex

Designed to resemble a Venetian palazzo, The Pier was built in 1864 to accommodate passengers departing for the Continent. The original Ha’penny Pier is still charmingly intact and gives its name to the hotel’s all-day ground floor bistro. Upstairs is the Harbourside Restaurant, a fine setting for elegant fish dishes. From six of the bedrooms you can soak up the view: the Orwell and Stour estuaries in the distance and tugs and fishing boats beetling about on the water at your feet. Double rooms from £120.

The Brudenell, Aldeburgh, Suffolk

With the shingle beach at its feet and new-minted decoration, The Brudenell is breezy, contemporary and welcoming to all. With wonderful seas views, the airy all-day restaurant makes the ideal setting for fresh, local seafood delivered to the door straight from the boats each morning. Many of the 44 bedrooms are particularly suited to families, with brightly tiled bathrooms and sofa beds for the kids. And Aldeburgh, rich in music, art and literature, is much more than just a seaside resort. Doubles from £190.

The Anchor, Walberswick, Suffolk

Not for nothing does this Suffolk village, surrounded by enigmatic marshes and separated from Southwold by the River Blyth, shelter a slew of discreet film, media and arts A-listers. The hosts here are Mark and Sophie Dorber who have created a haven of comfort and conviviality. Sophie cooks, and Mark matches her dishes with suggestions for gourmet beer (he’s an expert) and fine wines. The bedrooms, most in garden chalets, are simple and comfortable. Dogs and children welcome. Double rooms from £110.

Rose & Crown, Snettisham, Norfolk

In the charming village of Snettisham on the edge of the Wash and a short drive from North Norfolk’s glorious beaches, the Rose & Crown is everything you would imagine a traditional, cosy, whitewashed and rose-smothered pub to be. There are 16 stylish bedrooms, atmospheric bars and great food, as well as a sunny walled garden complete with pirate ship for the kids. A place to walk, eat, shop, birdwatch, sail, sunbathe on the beach or just relax. Double rooms from £110.

Seaham Hall, Co Durham

A good place to be when the weather is inclement, Seaham Hall is spectacularly sited on a cliff top, yet only 20 minutes from Durham and its cathedral. Not only that, but the Georgian manor house, where Lord Byron married 200 years ago this year, has undergone a major refurbishment. As well as offering offering one of the country’s most impressive spas, the new Byron’s Bar and Grill makes a swanky place to while away the hours. You need never venture outside; if you do, there are 33 acres of grounds to explore. Double rooms from £285.

Forss House, Thurso, Caithness

Just down the road from Dunnet Head, the most northerly point in Britain, this makes an excellent base for exploring Caithness (don’t miss the captivating Castle of Mey, former home of the Queen Mother) and for boat trips to the Orkneys. Built in 1810 and decorated in a style that feels at once traditional and fresh, it’s a favourite with salmon fishermen on the River Forss, which flows in an arc around the hotel. Try for one of the large, light first-floor master bedrooms. Double rooms from £135.

Isle of Eriska, Benderloch, Argyll

Island hotels have a magic all of their own and none more so than Eriska, connected to the mainland by a rumbly bridge but otherwise a world apart: all yours, with its seals and otters and dreamlike views. After a fine dinner in the turreted Scottish Baronial Big House, built in 1884, guests gather for an Eriska exclusive: badgers feeding from bread and milk on the terrace. There’s plenty to do: golf, leisure centre and multi-purpose sports hall. Doubles rooms from £350.

The Old Course Hotel, St Andrews, Fife

Bang alongside the 17th fairway of the Old Course, just outside St Andrews, the hotel also overlooks the second hole and has views to the 17th and 18th greens, the Royal and Ancient club house, the town, the West Sands and the sea: a perfect combination for anyone wanting seaside, sightseeing and golf all in one. Indeed, this fine, beautifully run hotel has not just the greatest view in golf, but one of the great settings of any hotel in Britain. Double rooms from £350.

The Midland Hotel, Morecambe, Lancashire

An Art Deco masterpiece, the Midland’s sleek white curve sits elegantly beside the shining expanse of Morecambe Bay. It offers magnificent views across the bay to the Lake District’s high fells, particularly from the handsome restaurant with its stylish sweep of window walls. After a multi-million pound restoration, the hotel is now as dazzling as it was in its glamorous heyday. There are just 44 rooms (splash out on the sea view) and an atmosphere that's more boutique than grand hotel. Double rooms from £158.

St Brides Spa Hotel, Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire

The seaside setting, tucked into the south-easternmost fringe of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, is charming, and the hotel itself is bright, breezy and contemporary, with a maritime motif. Make the most of the excellent spa, with soothing thermal suite, including an infinity pool, herbal rock sauna and a host of pampering treatments. The 34 bedrooms are divided into three categories – Good, Better and Best – and stylish colours evoke the seaside ambience. Double rooms from £160.

The Nare, Veryan-in-Roseland, Cornwall

Opened by Toby Ashworth’s grandmother in 1988, The Nare was the county’s first luxury establishment. Today, Toby continues to uphold her vision of traditional British hospitality, resulting in a hotel to which guests return year after year, drawn by the kindness, the offer of collection by car from their home, the location on stunning Carne Beach and the good food in the splendid dining room. Children are usually part of multi-generational gatherings. Dogs have their own menus. Double rooms from £284.

Watergate Bay, Newquay, Cornwall

A traditional bucket-and-spade holiday hotel since the Seventies, today Watergate Bay, run by the present generation of the same family, does its job of appealing to all ages with great flair, with an easy going yet stylish vibe and fun for all the family. Its Extreme Academy for watersports makes the most of its location on one of Cornwall’s best surfing beaches and easily justifies the hotel’s moniker of ‘Ski Resort on a Beach’. Double rooms from £145.

The Old Coastguard, Mousehole, Cornwall

A hotel since Victorian times, the bedrooms have all now submitted to owner Charlie Inkin’s penchant for tongue and groove panelling, sky blue or mustard yellow walls, auction room finds and striped curtains. Downstairs, the open plan bar/dining room and sitting area make the most of the view, with a wall of picture windows looking across the palm-filled garden to the sea. There’s plenty of local fish on the menu and the whole place exudes a sense of laid back conviviality and fun. Double rooms from £110.

Hell Bay, Bryher, Isle of Scilly

California meets the Atlantic Ocean at this terrific hotel on tiny Bryher. It takes commitment to get there by ferry and jeep, but when you do you’ll find nothing but grass, golden sand, a jumble of rocks and the vast ocean. The 25 airy suites can each sleep up to four. There’s also a pool, tennis court, play area, games and fitness rooms. Dishes such as Bryher crabs and Tresco beef are served in sunny weather on the terrace where you can drink in those astonishing views. Double rooms from £260.

Burgh Island, Bigbury-on-Sea, Devon

A one-off. With its authentic Art Deco building and interiors and its determination to recreate a bygone era, this island hotel, reached by sea tractor at high tide, attracts people who love the idea of donning evening dress for dinner, every night, and recreating the past. In its heyday, many celebrities, including Noel Coward, frequented the hotel. Agatha Christie, who wrote two novels here, including And Then There Were None, based on the island, loved it too. Double rooms from £450, including dinner.

The Crab and Lobster, Sidlesham, West Sussex

The hideaway location of this dapper little inn is special: a grassy expanse once occupied by a tidal mill with views across salt marsh and woodland, interlaced with watery creeks stretching to the sea. There are four attractive bedrooms upstairs, plus a delightful two-bedroom cottage next door. Back at the inn, amid slate floors, and cream painted or bare brick walls, the food is just right: perhaps local crab or lobster, superbly dressed, or a fine mushroom risotto. Double rooms from £160.

The Cary Arms, Babbacombe Beach, Devon

Its location is nothing short of spectacular, even if its steep cliffside approach is not for the faint-hearted. Once ensconced, the Cary Arms feels like a setting from a Mills & Boon romance and a Famous Five adventure rolled into one, its delightful bedrooms each supplied with a stick of rock on snow-white pillow. Eat Devon beef and Lyme Bay lobster in the stone-walled, slate floored bar, or pizzas and grills on pretty terraces that hang over the bay. Double rooms from £195.

The Pig on the Beach, Studland, Dorset

With its wacky profusion of turrets, gargoyles, stone casements and overlapping tiles on steep roofs, this enchanting 18th-century house will bring an instant smile and thoughts of Hansel and Gretel. As for the views, you’ll be entranced, especially looking across fields and sea to Old Harry Rocks. It brims over with charm: the signature conservatory restaurant; walled kitchen garden; original features; quirkily different bedrooms; spa in a shepherd’s hut and much more. For fun in the sun, look no further. Double rooms from £144.

The Little Gloster, Gurnard, Isle of Wight

With a bar along one wall and kitchen open to view, the simple, glass encased L-shaped dining room of this fun-loving restaurant with rooms on a little bay near Cowes buzzes with life. Owner Ben Cooke no longer mans the stoves but has joined his wife Holly front of house, with no diminishment in the quality of the food: perhaps home-cured Gravadlax, smoked mackerel salad Niçoise and lobster in season, plus locally sourced meat dishes, including excellent steaks, for the less piscatorial. Breakfasts and Sunday lunches are a highlight, and for those staying the night there are three cool, nautically-themed bedrooms; the best two are upstairs, one with a balcony overlooking the Solent, while the third is on the ground floor, with prices that vary according to the room. Double rooms from £110.